What we said: "Now comes Leslie Southwick, a 57-year retired state appellate court judge, whose record raises serious questions about his commitment to civil rights. Judicial watchdog groups have zeroed in on several of Southwick's Mississippi rulings, including his decision to allow the reinstatement of a white social worker who had used a racial slur - yes, the n-word - against a black colleague. In a 2001 case that took an 8-year-old girl from her bisexual mother, he joined the majority in citing the mother's "homosexual lifestyle" as a factor in child-custody decisions. The third time is not a charm for Bush's attempt to fill this seat with someone who may roll back the clock on civil rights." - Editorial, June 7, 2007

What happened: The Senate this week voted 59-38 to confirm Southwick for the federal appeals court in New Orleans.

California connection: Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., cast the decisive vote to get the nomination out of the Judiciary Committee - then voted to block a filibuster on the Senate floor. She said she was convinced the judge was both qualified and not a racist. Her move drew praise from Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., who said he would devote a chapter on her in a future book on leadership. Criticism came from Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Oakland, who said she was "incredibly disappointed."

{rdrsp}Express your views: A Web form to send an e-mail to Feinstein is available at her Web site, feinstein.senate.gov.